Fantasy Football Start 'Em or Sit 'Em: Week 4

Trying to decide who you should start or sit this week? 

Let’s take a look at a few potential decisions owners have and try to sort through them:

Start - Kyle Orton - Denver Broncos (at Tennesse)
Sit - Donovan McNabb - Washington Redskins (at Philadelphia)

It should seem like a no-brainer to start Orton at this point, shouldn’t it? 

However, he’s only owned in 70% of Yahoo leagues and 58.5% of ESPN leagues. 

While he may have a tougher matchup with the Titans, he has been on an amazing roll to open the season. Through three games. he has already thrown for 1,078 yards, with games of 295, 307, and 476. While you never know which Broncos receiver is going to have the biggest day, devaluing them as a whole, Orton should continue to produce. After Eli Manning threw for 386 yards in Week 3, Orton could certainly be in store for a solid day.

Donovan McNabb gets his first shot at his former team, going to Philadelphia in Week 4. 

There are going to be a lot of emotions involved, but in one-quarterback formats, it is tough to trust him. 

The Eagles have allowed just 183.3 yards per game through the air and are tied for second in the league with five interceptions; they also come after the quarterback hard, with 11 sacks. 

While McNabb has generated a rapport with Santana Moss, the running game hasn’t done enough to keep the Eagles defense of balance. Emotion could help drive him, but it’s still hard to trust him.

Start - Peyton Hillis - Cleveland Browns (vs. Cincinnati)
Sit - Jonathan Stewart - Carolina Panthers (at New Orleans)

It seems amazing that just over a week ago, we were having a discussion as to which Carolina running back would have more value in 2010. 

Who would’ve thought that three weeks into the season the answer would be neither? 

Through three weeks, Jonathan Stewart has gotten just 21 carries for 68 yards and 1 TD.  That’s a far cry from his 2009 campaign, when he rushed for 1,133 yards and 10 TD, averaging 5.1 yards per carry (this season he’s at 3.2 yards per carry). 

While the Saints rushing defense hasn’t been good, Stewart hasn’t seen more then eight carries in a game. It’s just impossible to depend on him until he proves that he can make an impact.

Hillis, meanwhile, took on a tough Ravens defense in Week 3 and simply ran roughshod over it. 

He went for 144 yards on 22 carries, with Jerome Harrison out due to injury.  He has actually scored in each of the first three games, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Eric Mangini may often be unpredictable, but it’s hard to imagine Hillis not taking over lead back duties for now. 

While that doesn’t mean Harrison isn’t going to get touches, you would think Hillis would get the lion’s share. Couple that with his nose for the end zone and it’s hard to leave him on your bench.

Start - Brandon Jackson - Green Bay Packers (vs. Detroit)
Sit - Shonn Greene - New York Jets (at Buffalo)

This is the second consecutive week that Greene finds himself in this column, but considering how highly drafted he was, it is worth beating the point home. 

Many considered him a borderline first round pick prior to the season, but now he is clearly the #2 running back behind LaDanian Tomlinson. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Greene actually played just 17 snaps on Sunday night, compared to 42 for Tomlinson. For the season, Greene has 106 yards on 30 carries vs. 208 yards on 37 carries for Tomlinson. 

Who appears to be getting the job done?

Until Greene is able to overtake Tomlinson and start bringing positive results, he should be on your bench.

I know there are concerns about Jackson sharing carries with John Kuhn and not being the “main” back, but he has an extremely favorable matchup with the Lions. 

Detroit has been the worst rushing team in the league, allowing 148.7 yards per game. Even if he shares carries and gets a limited workload, it should be a productive day.

(Three Wide Receiver Formats)
Start - Mario Manningham - New York Giants (vs. Chicago)
Sit - Pierre Garcon - Indianapolis Colts (at Jacksonville)

Manningham is the third receiver on the Giants, but the team’s big play receiver has managed at least 75 yards in each of the team’s first three games (14 receptions, 238 yards, 1 TD). 

The Giants-Bears game could easily breakdown into a shootout and with the Bears allowing 279.3 passing yards per game, Manningham should once again produce.

Garcon, meanwhile, has been somewhat ineffective. He missed Week 3 due to injury and has managed just 4 receptions for 54 yards and 0 TD. 

Austin Collie has clearly passed him on the depth chart and while Jacksonville is weak against the pass, even if Garcon plays, the ball could go to Collie, Reggie Wayne, & Dallas Clark ahead of him.

(Two Wide Receiver Formats)
Start - Malcolm Floyd - San Diego Chargers (vs. Arizona)
Sit - Mike Sims-Walker - Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Indianapolis)

Floyd has scored in back-to-back weeks, as well as getting at least 95 yards in each game. 

With Phillip Rivers throwing him the ball, there’s no reason to think that he’s not going to deliver yet again.

Sims-Walker has simply become too big of a wild card to trust. He’s had two complete busts (2 catches, 34 yards, 0 TD) sandwiching a top performance (10 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD). 

You just don’t know what you are going to get from David Garrard and the Colts have shown that you can thrash them on the ground. In smaller formats, I’d avoid him.

What are your thoughts on these decisions?  Who would you start?  Who would you sit?

Make sure to check out the rest of our Week 4 Rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 60 Wide Receivers
• Top 20 Tight Ends
• Top 15 Kickers
• Top 15 Defenses (coming soon)
•  Waiver Worthy For Week 4
• Sunday Sleepers (coming soon)

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